Boiler cleaner



Jan. 28, 1930.

N. L. SNOW BOILER CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet.

Filed Dec. 1, 1924 nome a l d/mam Jan. 28, 1930.; N, L, SNOW 1,745,327

BOILER CLEANER Filed Dec. 1, 1924 4 Sheets-Shem 2 Jan. 28, 1930.

N. L. SNOW BOILER CLEANER Filed Dec. 1. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 28, 1930. N. sNow BOILER CLEANER Filed Dec. 1, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN L. SNOW, 012 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND POWER SPECIALTY CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BOILER CLEANER Application filed December 1, 1924. Serial No. 753,273.

The invention relates to boiler cleaners and has among its objects to provide improved means for operating soot blowers or the like, especially adapted for use in connection with locomotive power plants though not necessarily limited thereto.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view showing the relation of the cleaner system to the boiler of a locomotive;

Figure 2 is a. side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modilication in which a blower, such as shown in Figure 2 is provided with a whistle communicating with the blower;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the handwheel for operating the blowers;

Figure 6 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section;

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 6 showing the handwheel in another of its positions;

Figure 8 is a sectional View through one of the blowers, showing the parts of the same in projected position;

Figure 9, is an end view of the blower shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view along the line 1010 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a view along the line 11-11 of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 8 showing the parts in withdrawn position;

Figure 13 is a view showing a modification embodying means for simultaneously admitting steam to the blower and rocking or oscillating the same;

Figure 14 is a detail elevational View of the segmental gear; and

Figure 15 is a side elevational View of the segmental gear along line 1515 of Figure 1%.

In the drawings, reference character 10 indicates a locomotive of ordinary construction having boiler tubes 11, tube sheet 15, fire box 12, side wall water legs 13 and cab 14:, which parts are all of the usual construction.

Located in each side wall water leg 13 is a blower, shown in one water leg at 16 and in the other water leg at 16 respectively. Each blower is preferably of the type normally housed within the water leg protected from the heat of the fire box but automatically projected forwardly into the fire box under the action of the cleaning fluid such as steam, air, etc., preferably the former. I have shown such a type of blower in Figures 8 to 12. In general this type of blower is provided with a discharge nozzle which, upon being projected forwardly into the fire box under the influence of the cleaning fluid, is directed to discharge the cleaning fluid against the boiler tube sheet for cleaning the same together with the boiler tubes and associated parts of the boiler which accumulate soot, dirt and the like. The nozzle may be formed with one or more discharge orifices. In its projected position the nozzle of the blower is adapted to be rocked or oscillated in order to cause the jet of cleaning fluid to sweep over the tube sheet. It is desirable to employ a blower in each side water leg, as shown in Figure 1, each blower being adapted to clean substantially half of the tube sheet.

Describing this part of my invention in detail, the soot blowers 16, 16 are inserted through tubes D extending through the water legs on each side of the boiler. These blowers are located a suitable distance back of the tube sheet 15 with their nozzles E directed toward the tube sheet. Each of the blowers 16, 16 is connected to a steam supply (or source of cleaning fluid) by pipes 17, 18 respectively and referred to more in detail hereafter. The operating rods 25 and 26 for rotating or oscillating the blowers 16, 16, respectively are controlled by a suitable handwheel 30 (described hereafter) located in the cab 14 within reach of the engineer or fireman. F denotes the body castings of the blowers, each casting being connected with the respective one of the cleaning fluid supply pipes 17 and 18, as shown in Figure 1. or securing the body casting F to the outer wall of the firebox 12, I may provide bolts F extending at the opposite sides of the casting as shown in Figure 9. lVhen the steam is turned on, describing the operation of one of the blowers, 16 for example, the steam passes through the supply pipe 17 into the chamber H and here acts on the plunger H and forces the same forward carrying with it the plunger tube I and compressing the spring I until the thrust bearing I is brought in contact with the spacer I the outer face of the thrust bearing bearing against the hub of the segmental gear J. The forward end of the spacer I bears against the packing housing I which is rigidly secured to sleeve I The sleeve I is rigidly carried by the blower housing as at I. As the plun er H moves forward under the action of tie steam, the nozzle is forced inside of the inner wall of the water leg as shown in Figure 8 and the jet of steam from the nozzle E is directed against the tube sheet. It will be noticed that the entire stream is concentrated through a single nozzle so that the steam is played with greater force against a relatively small area of the tube sheet upon revolving the handwheel 30 within the limits allowed by the rod J fixed to the housing and extending through the slot J on the lower partof the segmental gear J. The plunger tube I will turn the plunger H and the nozzle E through an arc of approximately 90 covering the boiler tubes in direct line with the nozzle either vertically the full height of the tube sheet, or if desired, the nozzle could be arranged to discharge along a horizontal line. The segmental gear J is fixed as by a set screw J, on the plunger tube I. Between plunger H and plunger tube I, is located a spider H secured to tube I by set screws H which have inwardly extending fingers H engageable in the circumferential groove H of the rod J so as to prevent relative longitudinal movement between rod J and tube I, but to permit relative rotation of these parts. H are other set screws for securing plunger H with the spider H the set screws H also serving to lock the set screws H in place. As shown in Figure 11 the cleaning fluid is free to pass spider H in travelling longitudinally in plunger H.

The ratchet wheel K fixedly mounted on the rod J acting through said rod and the pinion L and the gear L cut in the base of the nozzle E is carried forward by the pawl M fixed to gear J as shown in Figures 10 and 12; as long as the segmental gear J is turning to the left. Vhen the motion oi the handwheel 30 is reversed, the members H, E, J, M etc, initially move in unison until after a predetermined movement when the ratchet wheel K is held stationary with respect to housing M by a pawl M pivotally mounted as shown at M in Figure 10 on the housing M frictionally mounted on the rod J and likewise provided with a slot J with the result that the rotary motion about its axis is then imparted to the nozzle E. The amount of this motion is limited by the ratio bet-ween the pinion L and the gear L and by the position of the set screw N adj ustably extending into slot J and having threaded engagement in the opening N at the lower end of the housing M This allows movement of the housing 1 2 with relation to the rod J. As the operator continues to oscillate the handwheel 30 it will be seen that an intermittent circular movement is transmitted to the nozzle E and that this motion changes the relation of the axis of the nozzle E to that of the plunger H, resulting in a changed direction of the steam jet from the nozzle E.

In operation before the steam is turned on, the spring I will hold the parts in the position shown in Figure 12, the nozzle being housed within the water leg of the boiler. \Vhen the steam is admitted to the blower through pipe 17, the nozzle E restricts the flow of steam suiliciently so that the plunger H will be projected forwardly carrying with it plunger tube I and rod J so that the segmental gear J will be carried forwardly on the plunger tube I to mesh with the bevel gear driven by the operating rod 25. The thrust bearing 2 will take up the thrust through the spacer I and sleeve I. The parts are now ready for operation by the rod 25. As the rod 25 is rotated to move the se mental gear J to the left or counterclockwise as shown in Figure 9, pall M will rotate ratchet wheel K until the end of slot J 4 contacts with rod J 2 to prevent further operation of segmental gear J. During this rotation the housing M which is frictionally carried on shaft J also swings counterclockwise by reason of its slot J hus, it will be seen that plunger H will have been rocked with nozzle E, without relative movement therebetween, the nozzle E directing its jet of steam in a vertical path for the height of the tube sheet.

When the operating rod is rocked in the opposite direction to rotate segmental gear J to the right, or clockwise, as shown in Figure 9, the parts, such as the gears L, L, rod J, housing M frictionally mounted thereon, ratchet wheel K and segmental gear J all move together until further rotation of the housing M is prevented by reason of the set screw N contacting with the rod J For the remaining movement of the segmental. gear J, the housing M will act through pawl M to prevent further rotation of the ratchet wheel K and rod J so that during this remaining movement the plunger tube I will be rotated with respect to the rod J thus acting through bevel gears L and L to advance the direction of discharge from nozzle E. By regulating the set screw N, the increment of advance of the nozzle may be varied. The parts are then in position for the next cycle which will include, first tracing a vertical path by the blower jet down the tube sheet substantially parallel with the preceding and spaced therefrom a distance determined by the relative movement between the gears L and L.

My invention includes means for oscillating both blowers by a single mechanism whereby both of said blowers may be operated from a convenient point located for example in the cab of the locomotive.

In carrying out my invention, the blowers 16, 16 are supplied with steam or other cleaning fluid through lines 17, 18 respectively which extend from a three-way valve 19. Steam is supplied from the steam dome of the locomotive or other suitable source by way of pipes 20 and 21, the latter communicating with the three-way valve 19. Whistles 22 and 23 are located conveniently such as in the cab on lines 18 and 17 respectively so that indication may be had as to the operation of each of the blowers. If desired whistles 24E may have communication with the blowers as shown in Figure 4.

The blowers 16, 16 are adapted to be reciprocated or oscillated by rods 25, 26 respectively. Rod 25 extends through sleeves 27 and 28 and terminates in a T-head 29. Sleeve 28 is provided at its upper end with a handwheel 30 and at its lower end with a clutch part 31. The handwheel is formed with a T-slot for receiving the T-head 29 when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6. In these views the I handwheel 30 may be rotated or oscillated to impart a reciprocatory or oscillatory movement to blower 16 through the T-head 29 and the rod 25. Sleeve 28 is adapted to slide downwardly with respect to the rod 25 as shown in Figure 7 whereby the T-head 29 is disengaged from the T-slot in the handwheel. In this latter position the clutch part 31 is brought into engagement with a corresponding or complementary clutch part 32 carried by sleeve 27. The latter sleeve is suitably supported as by a bracket 33, and its proper position with respect to the bracket is 1naintained by collars 34. The lower end of sleeve 27 is provided with bevel gear 35 meshing with a bevel gear 36 carried by shaft 37 extending upwardly adjacent the top of the cab. The rotary or oscillatory movement of shaft 37 is transmitted through bevel gears 38 and 39 to the shaft 40, which extends horizontally across the locomotive, and thence through bevel gears 41 and 42 to the shaft 43. The latter shaft carries bevel gear 44 meshing with bevel gear L5 which in turn operates blower 16 through shaft 26 in a similar manner as blower 16 is operated by shaft 25.

In operation with the parts positioned as shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 12, steam is admitted from supply pipe 20 to line 17 by operating the three-way valve 19. Upon entering blower 16 the nozzle is projected forwardly into the firebox 12 to the position shown in Figure 8. In this position steam will be projected from the blower nozzle toward the tube sheet 15. By rotating or oscillating the handwheel 3O movement is imparted through rod 25 to the nozzle E of blower 16 whereby the jet of steam will be swept over the portion of the tube sheet 15 within the range of blower 16. During the period of time that steam is in the line 17, whistle 23 will sound thereby notifying the operator that steam is being supplied to blower 16. If desired, a whistle 24 may be connected directly with blower 16 as shown in Figure l. Upon completion of the blowing operation of blower 16 the three-way valve 19 is actuated to cut off the steam supply to line 17, the blower 16 automatically retracting into the housing D provided in water leg 13. Valve 19 is also actuated to feed the steam from the source 20 to line 18 whereupon the nozzle of blower 16 will be projected into the firebox. Simultaneously the whistle 22 will sound notifying the operator that steam is being supplied to blower 16. In order to reciprocate or oscillate blower 16 to cause its nozzle to sweep across the tube sheet, handwheel 30 is pushed downwardly to the position shown in Figure 7, thus disengaging T-head 29 from the T-slot of the handwheel and engaging the clutch parts 31 and 32. By then rotating or oscillating the handwheel 30 the movement will be imparted through sleeves 28, 27; bevel gears 35, 36; 38, 39; 41, 42; 4:4 and 15 to the rod 26 to effect the reciprocation or oscillation of the blower 16. After the blowing operation of the blower 16 is completed the supply of steam is cut off at the valve 19, the blower 16 automatically retracting into the housing provided by the water leg 13 in a manner corresponding with the blower 16 shown in Figure 12. The parts are then ready for the next blowing operation. It will be noted that I have provided a mechanism, including a pair of blowers located in the side wall water legs of a locomotive boiler, whereby either blower may be selectively reciprocated or oscillated by the single handwheel 30.

Referring to Figure 13, 17 a represents the steam supply to the blower 16, the latter being oscillated or reciprocated by the rod 25 in a manner corresponding to the rod 25 heretofore described. Instead of employing a three-way valve as shown at 19 for supplying steam to the blowers and for projecting the same into the fire box, (or in addition to such valve) I provide the steam supply 17 with a valve 46 adapted to seat at l7 and operable through a valve stem 48 for controlling the passage of cleaning fluid from the supply 17 to the blower 16 A spring 49 serves to normally retain valve 46 in its seated position. The rod 25 is provided. with a cam 50 adapted to contact with lilo valve stem 48 during predetermined portions of rotation or oscillation of the rod 25 By providing each blower with a valve, controlled by the operating rod as shown in Figure 13, each blower may be controlled by a single operating member, the supply of cleaning fluid to each blower being simultaneous with the rotation or oscillation of each respective blower and for a predetermined period of the rotation of the'control rod.

The cam 50 may be made to unseat the valve 46 quickly or slowly for a given movement of the rod 25 and can be proportioned to hold the valve unseated for any desired length of time such period usually being determined by the are necessary to sweep the jet of cleaning fluid over the portion of the tube sheet to be cleaned.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a locomotive structure including a cab and a boiler, the combination of a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers arranged to turn about their axes to direct cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of said boiler to be cleaned and means for selectively imparting turning movement to said blowers, said means including a movable member arranged to be controlled from said cab and connections between said member and said blowers for transmitting motion from said member selectively to said blowers.

2. In a boiler cleaner for a locomotive power plant, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to directcleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, means including a member adapted to be controlled from the cab of the locomotive for selectively rotating the said blowers, and means for supplying cleaning fluid selectively to said blowers.

3. In a boiler cleaner for a locomotive power plant. including a cab and. opposed walls extending forwardly from the cab, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, means including a member adapted to be controlled from the cab of the locomotive for selectively rotating the said blowers, said blowers being normally housed in the opposed walls of the locomotive fire box, power transmitting connections between said member and said blowers, and means for projecting said blower forwardly into said fire box.

4. In a boiler cleaner for a locomotive power plant, including a cab, a firebox and onposed walls extending forwardly from the cab at opposite sides of the firebox, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, means including a member adapted to be controlled from the cab of the locomotive for selectively rotating the said blowers, said blowers being normally housed in the opposed walls of the locomotive fire box and power transmitting connections between said member and said blowers, and cleaning fluid operated means for projecting said blowers forwardly to said fire box.

5. In a boiler cleaner for locomotive power plants, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct the cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, a rod connected to each blower and adapted to rotate the same, and means including a single mechanism adapted to be controlled from the cab of the locomotive for selectively operating said blowers through said rods.

6. In a boiler cleaner for locomotive power plants, source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct the cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, a rod connected to each blower and adapted to rotate the same, means including a single mechanism adapted to be controlled from the cab of the locomotive for selectively operating said blowers through said rods, and means for selectively supplying cleaning fluid to said blowers.

7. In a boiler cleaner for a locomotive power plant, including a cab and opposed walls extending forwardly from said cab, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct the cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, a rod connected to each blower and adapted to rotate the same, and means including a single mechanism adapted to be controlled from the cab of the locomotive for selectively operating said blowers through said rods, said blowers being normally housed in the walls of the locomotive fire box, and means for projecting said blowers forwardly to said fire box.

8. In a boiler cleaner for a locomotive power plant, including a cab and opposed walls bound the fire box of the locomotive, a source of cleaning fluid. a plu 'ality of blowers adapted to direct the cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, a rod connected to each blower and adapted to rotate the same, and means including a single mechanism adapted to be controlled from the cab of the locomotive for selectively operating said blowers through said rods, said blowers being normally housed in the walls of the locomotive fire box and cleaning fluid operated means for projecting said blowers forwardly into said fire box.

9. In aboiler cleaner for locomotive power plants, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct the cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, a rod connected to each blower and adapted to rotate the same, a rotatable sleeve mounted on one of said rods, a connection between one end of said sleeve and the rest of said rods, and an operating member adapted to be selectively clutched to the other end of said sleeve or the rod upon which said sleeve is mounted for respectively rotating or oscillating the blowers.

10. In a boiler cleaner for locomotive power plants, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct the cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, a rod connected to each blower and adapted to rotate the same, a rotatable sleeve mounted on one of said rods, a connection between one end of said sleeve and the rest of said rods, and an operating member adapted to be selectively clutched to the other end of said sleeve or the rod upon which said sleeve is mounted for respectively rotating or oscillating the blowers, and means for selectively supplying cleaning fluid to said blowers.

11. In a boiler cleaner for a locomotive power plant, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct the cleaning fluid from said source against the parts of the boiler to be cleaned, a rod connected to each blower and adapted to rotate the same, a rotatable sleeve mounted on one of said rods, a connection between one end of said sleeve and the rest of said rods, and an oper ating member adapted to be selectively clutched to the other end of said sleeve or the rod upon which said sleeve is mounted for respectively rotating or oscillating the blowers, said blowers being normally housed in the walls of the locomotive fire box, and means for projecting said blowers forwardly into said firebox.

12. In a locomotive power plant including a cab, a firebox and walls bounding the firebox, a source of cleaning fluid, means for cleaning parts of the plant comprising a blower normally housed within the wall of the locomotive fire box and adapted to project a jet of cleaning fluid against said parts, a member adapted to be controlled from the cab for eflecting the rotation of said blower, power transmitting connections between the said member and the blower, and means simultaneously operable with and by said member for supplying cleaning fluid to said blower and projecting the same into the firebox.

13. In combination with a locomotive, means for cleaning parts of the same comprising a plurality of blowers normally housed within Walls of the locomotive firebox, a source of cleaning fluid, a rod for rotating each blower respectively, means controlled from the cab of the locomotive for selectively operating said rods, and means controlled by each of said rods for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid from said source to the blowers respectively.

14. In a boiler cleaner, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of reciprocable and rotatable blowers each having a nozzle for discharging said fluid, valves controlling the passage of fluid from said source to said blowers respectively, means including an operating member for selectively rotating said blowers, connections between said means and said valves for unseating the valves to supply cleaning fluid to the blowers respectively upon movement of said operating member, and means for projecting the blowers forwardly.

15. In a boiler cleaner, a source of cleaning fluid, a reciprocable and rotatable blower having a nozzle for discharging said fluid, a valve controlling the passage of fluid from said source to said blower, means including an operating member for rotating said blower, a connection between said member and said valve for unseating the valve to supply cleaning fluid to the blower upon movement of said operating member, and means for projecting the blower forwardly, said last named means being operable upon unseating of said valve.

16. In a boiler cleaner, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct cleaning fluid against parts of the boiler to be cleaned, means including a controlling member for selectively moving said blowers, and means for supplying cleaning fluid selectively to said blowers.

17. In a boiler cleaner, a source of cleaning fluid, a plurality of blowers adapted to direct cleaning fluid against parts of the boiler to be cleaned, a manually operable controlling member for selectively moving said blowers, and means for selectively clutching the respective blowers into operative relation with said controlling member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NORMAN L. SNOW. 

